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How to Reach Rameswaram

Rameswaram is an island town reached across the Pamban bridge, and one of the Char Dham — a pilgrimage town first and a coastal one second.

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Photograph: Shajinss / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
CHEAPEST WAY IN
₹2,014
from Manamadurai, 131.9 km
ROADS IN
252
cities we price a cab from
NEAREST AIRPORT
179.2 km
Madurai

Ways in, by road

FromDistanceDriveCab from
Manamadurai131.9 km2.5 hrs₹2,014See fare →
Karaikudi141.4 km3 hrs₹2,138See fare →
Sivaganga150.4 km3 hrs₹2,255See fare →
Aranthangi160.4 km3 hrs₹2,385See fare →
Aruppukkottai164.1 km3.5 hrs₹2,433See fare →
Madurai172.6 km3.5 hrs₹2,678See fare →
Pudukkottai174.5 km3.5 hrs₹2,569See fare →
Kovilpatti178 km3.5 hrs₹2,614See fare →
Thoothukudi178.8 km3.5 hrs₹2,625See fare →
Melur184.2 km3.5 hrs₹2,694See fare →
Adhirampattinam189.3 km4 hrs₹2,761See fare →
Pattukkottai191.9 km4 hrs₹2,794See fare →
Sengottai194.5 km4 hrs₹2,829See fare →
Vadipatti196.2 km4 hrs₹2,850See fare →
Sattur198.7 km4 hrs₹2,883See fare →
Thirumangalam201 km4 hrs₹2,913See fare →
Virudhunagar205.1 km4 hrs₹2,967See fare →
Usilampatti209.7 km4 hrs₹3,026See fare →
Kayalpattinam212.9 km4.5 hrs₹3,068See fare →
Sankarankoil214.7 km4.5 hrs₹3,091See fare →
Mannargudi215.6 km4.5 hrs₹3,103See fare →
Thuvakudi222.8 km4.5 hrs₹3,196See fare →
Thiruthuraipoondi225.2 km4.5 hrs₹3,228See fare →
Thirupathur226.5 km4.5 hrs₹3,245See fare →
Srivilliputhur230.7 km4.5 hrs₹3,299See fare →
Tenkasi230.8 km4.5 hrs₹3,300See fare →
Thiruvarur231.9 km4.5 hrs₹3,314See fare →
Manapparai232 km4.5 hrs₹3,316See fare →
Vedaranyam233.9 km4.5 hrs₹3,341See fare →
Koothanallur234.2 km4.5 hrs₹3,345See fare →
Trichy234.5 km4.5 hrs₹3,525See fare →
Rajapalayam234.7 km4.5 hrs₹3,351See fare →
Puliyangudi235.5 km4.5 hrs₹3,362See fare →
Nagapattinam240.5 km5 hrs₹3,427See fare →
Thanjavur243.6 km5 hrs₹3,467See fare →
Kilvelur247 km5 hrs₹3,511See fare →
Kadayanallur248.5 km5 hrs₹3,530See fare →
Theni249.9 km5 hrs₹3,549See fare →
Tirunelveli251.9 km5 hrs₹3,574See fare →
Attur253.9 km5 hrs₹3,601See fare →
Periyakulam256.9 km5 hrs₹3,640See fare →
Kulithalai257.4 km5 hrs₹3,647See fare →
Kalakkad258 km5 hrs₹3,654See fare →
Karur258.8 km5 hrs₹3,665See fare →
Vikramasingapuram265.9 km5.5 hrs₹3,757See fare →
Bodinayakanur268 km5.5 hrs₹3,784See fare →
Ambasamudram271 km5.5 hrs₹3,823See fare →
Chinnamanur275 km5.5 hrs₹3,875See fare →
Oddanchatram275.3 km5.5 hrs₹3,879See fare →
Musiri277.7 km5.5 hrs₹3,910See fare →
Karaikalcrosses into Tamil Nadu281.3 km5.5 hrs₹3,957See fare →
Uthamapalayam286.6 km5.5 hrs₹4,026See fare →
Thuraiyur287.2 km5.5 hrs₹4,033See fare →
Jayankondam289.2 km6 hrs₹4,060See fare →
Mayiladuthurai291.8 km6 hrs₹4,093See fare →
Perambalur295.1 km6 hrs₹4,136See fare →
Palani295.5 km6 hrs₹4,142See fare →
Kanyakumari299.2 km6 hrs₹4,190See fare →
Gudalur Theni300.6 km6 hrs₹4,208See fare →
Dharapuram308 km6 hrs₹4,304See fare →
Padmanabhapuram309.8 km6 hrs₹4,328See fare →
Mohanur311.9 km6 hrs₹4,354See fare →
Punalurcrosses into Tamil Nadu312.4 km6 hrs₹4,361See fare →
Ariyalur314.5 km6.5 hrs₹4,389See fare →
Vellakoil314.9 km6.5 hrs₹4,393See fare →
Thekkadycrosses into Tamil Nadu316.4 km6.5 hrs₹4,413See fare →
Namakkal316.7 km6.5 hrs₹4,417See fare →
Colachel316.9 km6.5 hrs₹4,420See fare →
Kattappanacrosses into Tamil Nadu321.1 km6.5 hrs₹4,474See fare →
Kuzhithurai326.1 km6.5 hrs₹4,539See fare →
Sirkazhi326.7 km6.5 hrs₹4,547See fare →
Udumalaipettai327.8 km6.5 hrs₹4,561See fare →
Kottarakkaracrosses into Tamil Nadu330.4 km6.5 hrs₹4,595See fare →
Vadalur331.3 km6.5 hrs₹4,607See fare →
Pugalur331.5 km6.5 hrs₹4,610See fare →
Kodaikanal334.3 km6.5 hrs₹4,646See fare →
Adoorcrosses into Tamil Nadu339 km7 hrs₹4,707See fare →
Kangeyam340.4 km7 hrs₹4,725See fare →
Krishnagiri341.4 km7 hrs₹4,738See fare →
Poovarcrosses into Tamil Nadu344.9 km7 hrs₹4,784See fare →
Pathanamthittacrosses into Tamil Nadu346.9 km7 hrs₹4,810See fare →
Neyyattinkaracrosses into Tamil Nadu347.4 km7 hrs₹4,816See fare →
Chidambaram349.8 km7 hrs₹4,848See fare →
Pandalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu352.6 km7 hrs₹4,884See fare →
Tiruchengode352.7 km7 hrs₹4,885See fare →
Palladam353.9 km7 hrs₹4,901See fare →
Kovalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu354.2 km7 hrs₹4,905See fare →
Rasipuram356.7 km7 hrs₹4,937See fare →
Sabarimalacrosses into Tamil Nadu356.9 km7 hrs₹4,940See fare →
Kollamcrosses into Tamil Nadu357.1 km7 hrs₹4,942See fare →
Paravurcrosses into Tamil Nadu358.3 km7 hrs₹4,958See fare →
Pollachi358.4 km7 hrs₹4,959See fare →
Vagamoncrosses into Tamil Nadu358.7 km7 hrs₹4,963See fare →
Ulundurpettai358.8 km7 hrs₹4,965See fare →
Varkalacrosses into Tamil Nadu359.1 km7 hrs₹4,969See fare →
Virudhachalam359.6 km7 hrs₹4,975See fare →
Jolarpet360.7 km7 hrs₹4,990See fare →
Kallakurichi360.7 km7 hrs₹4,990See fare →
Sankagiri365 km7.5 hrs₹5,045See fare →
Karunagappallycrosses into Tamil Nadu366.6 km7.5 hrs₹5,066See fare →
Munnarcrosses into Tamil Nadu367.1 km7.5 hrs₹5,072See fare →
Salem367.3 km7.5 hrs₹5,075See fare →
Chengannurcrosses into Tamil Nadu368.1 km7.5 hrs₹5,086See fare →
Kayamkulamcrosses into Tamil Nadu368.8 km7.5 hrs₹5,094See fare →
Trivandrumcrosses into Tamil Nadu370.7 km7.5 hrs₹5,119See fare →
Mavelikkaracrosses into Tamil Nadu370.8 km7.5 hrs₹5,120See fare →
Avinashi371.8 km7.5 hrs₹5,133See fare →
Changanasserycrosses into Tamil Nadu373.2 km7.5 hrs₹5,151See fare →
Tirukoilur375.9 km7.5 hrs₹5,187See fare →
Nedumangadcrosses into Tamil Nadu376.1 km7.5 hrs₹5,190See fare →
Erode376.2 km7.5 hrs₹5,190See fare →
Thiruvallacrosses into Tamil Nadu376.6 km7.5 hrs₹5,196See fare →
Perundurai378.3 km7.5 hrs₹5,218See fare →
Karumathampatti378.9 km7.5 hrs₹5,226See fare →
Haripadcrosses into Tamil Nadu383.4 km7.5 hrs₹5,284See fare →
Kottayamcrosses into Tamil Nadu385.8 km7.5 hrs₹5,315See fare →
Edappadi386.2 km7.5 hrs₹5,321See fare →
Panruti388.6 km8 hrs₹5,351See fare →
Tharamangalam389.3 km8 hrs₹5,361See fare →
Erattupettacrosses into Tamil Nadu389.9 km8 hrs₹5,369See fare →
Coimbatore390.6 km8 hrs₹5,378See fare →
Punjai Puliampatti392.9 km8 hrs₹5,408See fare →
Attingalcrosses into Tamil Nadu394.5 km8 hrs₹5,429See fare →
Idappadicrosses into Tamil Nadu395.2 km8 hrs₹5,437See fare →
Palacrosses into Tamil Nadu396.2 km8 hrs₹5,450See fare →
Thodupuzhacrosses into Tamil Nadu397.1 km8 hrs₹5,462See fare →
Gobichettipalayam397.8 km8 hrs₹5,471See fare →
Palakkadcrosses into Tamil Nadu402.5 km8 hrs₹5,532See fare →
Mettur405.1 km8 hrs₹5,567See fare →
Kothamangalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu405.2 km8 hrs₹5,568See fare →
Muvattupuzhacrosses into Tamil Nadu410 km8 hrs₹5,630See fare →
Valparai410.1 km8 hrs₹5,631See fare →
Bhavani410.4 km8 hrs₹5,635See fare →
Alleppeycrosses into Tamil Nadu410.5 km8 hrs₹5,636See fare →
Karamadai410.7 km8 hrs₹5,639See fare →
Mettupalayam411.2 km8 hrs₹5,646See fare →
Tiruvannamalai412.3 km8 hrs₹5,660See fare →
Ettumanoorcrosses into Tamil Nadu413.1 km8.5 hrs₹5,670See fare →
Kundrathur413.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,675See fare →
Madurantakam413.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,675See fare →
Mangadu413.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,675See fare →
Maraimalai Nagar413.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,675See fare →
Koothattukulamcrosses into Tamil Nadu414.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,693See fare →
Perumbavoorcrosses into Tamil Nadu416 km8.5 hrs₹5,708See fare →
Viluppuram416.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,720See fare →
Sathyamangalam419.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,759See fare →
Pondicherrycrosses into Tamil Nadu424.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,824See fare →
Harur426.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,845See fare →
Tindivanam429.7 km8.5 hrs₹5,886See fare →
Vaikomcrosses into Tamil Nadu431.3 km8.5 hrs₹5,907See fare →
Aluvacrosses into Tamil Nadu433.1 km8.5 hrs₹5,930See fare →
Dharmapuri435.7 km8.5 hrs₹5,964See fare →
Ottappalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu437.9 km9 hrs₹5,992See fare →
Kalamasserycrosses into Tamil Nadu438.9 km9 hrs₹6,006See fare →
Mannarkkadcrosses into Tamil Nadu440.2 km9 hrs₹6,023See fare →
Eloorcrosses into Tamil Nadu440.4 km9 hrs₹6,025See fare →
Cherthalacrosses into Tamil Nadu441.6 km9 hrs₹6,041See fare →
Piravomcrosses into Tamil Nadu442.7 km9 hrs₹6,055See fare →
Cherpulasserycrosses into Tamil Nadu446.5 km9 hrs₹6,105See fare →
Kochicrosses into Tamil Nadu450.7 km9 hrs₹6,159See fare →
Coonoor454.6 km9 hrs₹6,210See fare →
Thrissurcrosses into Tamil Nadu454.7 km9 hrs₹6,211See fare →
Shoranurcrosses into Tamil Nadu455.3 km9 hrs₹6,219See fare →
Polur460.8 km9 hrs₹6,290See fare →
Perinthalmannacrosses into Tamil Nadu463.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,326See fare →
Vandavasi465.2 km9.5 hrs₹6,348See fare →
Ooty469.2 km9.5 hrs₹6,400See fare →
Pattambicrosses into Tamil Nadu469.7 km9.5 hrs₹6,406See fare →
Irinjalakudacrosses into Tamil Nadu471.3 km9.5 hrs₹6,427See fare →
Valancherycrosses into Tamil Nadu474.7 km9.5 hrs₹6,471See fare →
Chalakudycrosses into Tamil Nadu475.6 km9.5 hrs₹6,483See fare →
Arani476.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,494See fare →
Guruvayurcrosses into Tamil Nadu478.2 km9.5 hrs₹6,516See fare →
Malappuramcrosses into Tamil Nadu484.7 km9.5 hrs₹6,601See fare →
Cheyyar485.2 km9.5 hrs₹6,608See fare →
Manjericrosses into Tamil Nadu486.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,625See fare →
Kottakkalcrosses into Tamil Nadu488.3 km10 hrs₹6,648See fare →
Angamalycrosses into Tamil Nadu490.1 km10 hrs₹6,671See fare →
Kodungallurcrosses into Tamil Nadu494.8 km10 hrs₹6,732See fare →
Chengalpattu495.1 km10 hrs₹6,736See fare →
Vellore496 km10 hrs₹6,748See fare →
Tirurcrosses into Tamil Nadu497.4 km10 hrs₹6,767See fare →
Chamarajanagarcrosses into Tamil Nadu497.6 km10 hrs₹6,769See fare →
Ponnanicrosses into Tamil Nadu497.8 km10 hrs₹6,771See fare →
North Paravurcrosses into Tamil Nadu499 km10 hrs₹6,787See fare →
Kondottycrosses into Tamil Nadu501.6 km10 hrs₹6,821See fare →
Tanurcrosses into Tamil Nadu501.6 km10 hrs₹6,821See fare →
Vaniyambadi501.8 km10 hrs₹6,824See fare →
Tirurangadicrosses into Tamil Nadu502.2 km10 hrs₹6,829See fare →
Arcot503.6 km10 hrs₹6,847See fare →
Kanchipuram505.1 km10 hrs₹6,867See fare →
Melvisharam505.1 km10 hrs₹6,867See fare →
Nilamburcrosses into Tamil Nadu506.2 km10 hrs₹6,881See fare →
Tirupattur506.2 km10 hrs₹6,881See fare →
Walajapet510.2 km10 hrs₹6,932See fare →
Parappanangadicrosses into Tamil Nadu511 km10 hrs₹6,943See fare →
Mahabalipuram513.6 km10.5 hrs₹6,977See fare →
Ranipet515.2 km10.5 hrs₹6,997See fare →
Gundlupetcrosses into Tamil Nadu516 km10.5 hrs₹7,008See fare →
Mukkamcrosses into Tamil Nadu516.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,010See fare →
Guduvancheri517 km10.5 hrs₹7,021See fare →
Gudalur, Nilgiris517.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,030See fare →
Ambur518.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,042See fare →
Nellikuppam520 km10.5 hrs₹7,060See fare →
Gudiyatham520.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,068See fare →
Kuppamcrosses into Tamil Nadu521.2 km10.5 hrs₹7,075See fare →
Irittycrosses into Tamil Nadu521.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,081See fare →
Koduvallycrosses into Tamil Nadu521.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,081See fare →
Mananthavadycrosses into Tamil Nadu521.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,081See fare →
Sriperumbudur530.4 km10.5 hrs₹7,195See fare →
Kozhikodecrosses into Tamil Nadu530.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,199See fare →
Kanhangadcrosses into Tamil Nadu531.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,205See fare →
Koothuparambacrosses into Tamil Nadu531.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,205See fare →
Koyilandycrosses into Tamil Nadu531.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,205See fare →
Mattannurcrosses into Tamil Nadu531.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,205See fare →
Sholinghur531.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,210See fare →
Pallavaram534 km10.5 hrs₹7,242See fare →
Arakkonam534.2 km10.5 hrs₹7,245See fare →
Pernampattu535.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,256See fare →
Pammal536.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,277See fare →
Kollegalcrosses into Tamil Nadu538.1 km11 hrs₹7,295See fare →
Anakaputhur539.5 km11 hrs₹7,313See fare →
Nelliyalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu540 km11 hrs₹7,320See fare →
Mysorecrosses into Tamil Nadu541.1 km11 hrs₹7,334See fare →
Poonamallee544 km11 hrs₹7,372See fare →
Kanakapuracrosses into Tamil Nadu546.2 km11 hrs₹7,401See fare →
Thiruverkadu548.3 km11 hrs₹7,428See fare →
Thiruverkadu550.2 km11 hrs₹7,452See fare →
Kolar Gold Fieldscrosses into Tamil Nadu550.4 km11 hrs₹7,455See fare →
Narasingapuram552 km11 hrs₹7,476See fare →
Bangalorecrosses into Tamil Nadu553.1 km11 hrs₹7,490See fare →
Thiruninravur553.4 km11 hrs₹7,494See fare →
Palamanercrosses into Tamil Nadu555.6 km11 hrs₹7,523See fare →
Tiruttani556.5 km11 hrs₹7,534See fare →
Chennai559.1 km11 hrs₹7,967See fare →
Hoskotecrosses into Tamil Nadu560.7 km11 hrs₹7,590See fare →
Payyolicrosses into Tamil Nadu562.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,616See fare →
Nagaricrosses into Tamil Nadu565.6 km11.5 hrs₹7,652See fare →
Sulthan Batherycrosses into Tamil Nadu568.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,690See fare →
Nanjangudcrosses into Tamil Nadu568.7 km11.5 hrs₹7,693See fare →
Thiruvallur571.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,729See fare →
Vatakaracrosses into Tamil Nadu573 km11.5 hrs₹7,749See fare →
Chittoorcrosses into Tamil Nadu574.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,768See fare →
Mulbagalcrosses into Tamil Nadu581.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,858See fare →
Hunsurcrosses into Tamil Nadu586.5 km11.5 hrs₹7,925See fare →
Wayanadcrosses into Tamil Nadu586.7 km11.5 hrs₹7,927See fare →
Chikkaballapurcrosses into Tamil Nadu587.8 km12 hrs₹7,941See fare →
Ramanagaracrosses into Tamil Nadu589.4 km12 hrs₹7,962See fare →
Mandyacrosses into Tamil Nadu591.2 km12 hrs₹7,986See fare →
Ponneri592.3 km12 hrs₹8,000See fare →
Punganurcrosses into Tamil Nadu592.6 km12 hrs₹8,004See fare →
Kolarcrosses into Tamil Nadu595.5 km12 hrs₹8,042See fare →

If you are flying

What the road asks of you

A round trip here is billed by the day, not the kilometre

A return journey is charged for at least 300 km per day, because the car stays with you for the whole trip rather than picking up another fare. This route is 235 km each way, so 469 km of driving over 3 days is still billed as 900 km. On a short trip that floor is most of the fare, and two one-way journeys can work out cheaper — worth comparing both before you book.

Rameswaram is an island

The road reaches the island over the Pamban road bridge. Dhanushkodi, at the far tip, is a further drive beyond Rameswaram town; if you want to go there, say so when you book.

This route crosses into Tamil Nadu

Leaving Karnataka for Tamil Nadu means a state permit. Whether you pay it depends on the fare you pick: a toll-included fare has it inside, and nothing is collected at the border; the cheaper fare leaves it out, and it is handed over at the checkpost. The amount is set by Tamil Nadu, not by us, and the receipt is theirs.

What is there

Ramanathaswamy Temple

The temple at the centre of the town, known for its long corridors.

Pamban Bridge

The sea crossing onto the island, road and rail alongside each other.

Dhanushkodi

The abandoned town at the end of the spit, past the point the sea took in 1964.

Agni Theertham

The shore beside the temple where pilgrims bathe.

Worth knowing before you go

  • Dhanushkodi is a long, exposed drive beyond the town — go with time and water.
  • The temple has its own rhythm of opening and closing through the day; the crowds follow it.

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest way to reach Rameswaram by cab?+

From Manamadurai — 131.9 km, about 2.5 hrs, from ₹2,014 for the whole car.

Which is the nearest airport to Rameswaram?+

Madurai Airport, 179.2 km away, from ₹2,688 by cab.

Is a cab fare to Rameswaram per person or for the car?+

For the car. The fare is the same whether one person travels or the car is full.

Anything to know about the road to Rameswaram?+

A return journey is charged for at least 300 km per day, because the car stays with you for the whole trip rather than picking up another fare. This route is 235 km each way, so 469 km of driving over 3 days is still billed as 900 km. On a short trip that floor is most of the fare, and two one-way journeys can work out cheaper — worth comparing both before you book.

From Rameswaram